Since tossing scraps in the garbage is strictly verboten in the woodworking world I’m always looking for ways to use those random tiny scraps in the scrap bin. My favourite excuse for hanging on to them is always “I’ll use them for wedges”. Sure, some day I will absolutely make wedged tenon bookshelves, tables, plenty of wedged tenon chairs, so I’m just making sure I am unquestionably prepared with plenty of stock for all those wedges I will need. Eventually. In the unforeseen future. Although I have a long list of projects before that. I’ll use the wedges.
From time to time though I think I have a little too much wedge material so want to thin it out, but these scraps are so weird and useless – other than for wedges of course – there’s really not all that much to do with them. They won’t make cutting boards or picture frames or boxes or clocks, definitely nowhere close to useful for furniture. Why am I hanging on to a 7-shaped scrap of jatoba?
So I have some simple and really small projects for those odd-sized “future wedge only”, and number-shaped scraps. As a bonus, they’re all quick and fairly simple so it’s nice to knock a few out between bigger projects as a quick win.
These are based around using hand tools, and using a simple set of hand tools. I’m assuming the hand tool woodworker has planes, saws, spokeshave and chisel. A basic toolkit is all you need.
Spatulas: And as a bonus I’ll give you three types!
Chopstick rest: Simple, tiny. Maybe even the non-wedge material makes the cut for this one.
Miniature Mallets: Absolutely minimal material investment but does take a bit more skill, tools and involvement
Bonus: One of the most simple woodworking projects imaginable.
SPATULAS
I like these as a way to practice shaping, curves, and following a more organic process to feel the piece taking shape. It’s a nice break from the strict rectilinear plan and joinery process.
The easiest way I have made a spatula is using a piece of wood between ⅛” – ¼” thick, and cutting out a spatula shape. Usually 12-14” long. That’s about it.
The shape doesn’t matter, it doesn’t have to be perfect, it can be one of those triangular ones and all you need is a handsaw, or it can be curvy and groovy and you use a coping saw for the shape. Use a spokeshave on the corners, use a spokeshave or plane for a bevel on the front edge, sand it smooth (or don’t!) and you’re done. It works. I made one from maple in 2020 – it’s far from perfect – and it’s still going strong after almost four years of daily use. See the one on the left below.
For the next level spatula all you need is a thicker board, ½” to 1” thick depending on the scraps, and the heftiness you want in a spatula (does anybody really need a hefty spatula?). Depending on whether you want some curvature on the handle, or a straight one like I made, the process will differ slightly. I sawed down the handle in a straight line so it was square, then sawed down the faces of the wide (working) end like a tenon to make it thinner, then held the wide end in the vise to shape the handle with a spokeshave. I worked it to a comfortable grip, shaped the transition between the handle and flat end, then cleaned and shaped the flat end. Below – middle.
The third type is another step up. Take a piece like your first spatula (or use that spatula), glue two blocks either side of the handle, shape them round and comfortable and you have a fancy laminated spatula. Right: White oak and walnut.
CHOPSTICK RESTS
This is such a simple project but makes a practical and cute little handmade gift. My version is extremely quick and simple but there is also lots of room to experiment with shapes and sizing.
Square up some small pieces approximately 2” long, to somewhere in the range of 5/8ths to 3/4s square. I do this with just a block plane, and on these tiny pieces it can be easier to clamp it in the vise upside down and run the wood over the plane. Using a rasp, file, or some sandpaper on a rod, sand a curve in one side which will become the holder for the chopsticks, then bevel or round the corners as you see fit. I add a little chamfer just to knock off the sharp corners. Left: Pine on walnut. Right: Walnut on pine.
MALLETS
The next project is actually that – a project. You need the tiniest amount of material you can imagine but it does take dimensioning, layout, and involves joinery.
I will admit that if your goal is to use as much of your scrap as fast as possible, this is not the way to do it. It’s virtually the opposite. First, go watch Paul Sellers’ video on making a joiner’s mallet. Then follow that process with as small a piece of wood as you can realistically use.
Mine measure approx 3” long, the handle is about ¼” thick, the head is around 1”x1”x1½”. Dimension the pieces, planing a taper on the handle. Use centre lines to lay out the tapered mortise. Knock out the mortise however you please – I drilled through with two small holes and finished it off with a ¼” chisel. Then fit the handle and do some shaping on the head and handle like a real mallet. In a few hours you’ll have the cutest mallet you’ve ever seen and in 6 months you’ll have an empty scrap bin.
BONUS: For the last one, technically this wasn’t a scrap project for me since I bought stock for it, a dowel rod. But you could just as easily use a 12-14” offcut, say 1 ½” square. Plane it to an octagon. Then plane off the corners to 16 sides. Keep going until it’s round and finish it off with the spokeshave. Knock off the sharp corners on the ends and enjoy your new rolling pin.
It’s always hard to make sacrifices. I’m comforted by knowing those lost wedges will live on in the spatulas of the world.
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